WHO MAKES THE WORLD’S BEST WATCHES, CLOCKS AND TIMEPIECES?

Per top wristwatch futurists and keynote speakers, the industry that produces timepieces and their components is generally referred to as the watch and clock industry or horology industry. Some more specific terms include:

• Watchmaking – This refers to the manufacturing of watches and their various parts like movements, cases, dials, hands, etc. In effect, watchmakers specialize in the delicate assembly and adjustment of watch components.
• Clockmaking – The manufacture of clocks, clock movements, and associated parts is clockmaking, per top wristwatch futurists and keynote speakers. The space can cover a wide range of clocks from small timepieces to large public clocks.
• Component manufacturing – Companies that produce watch and clock components like springs, jewels, batteries, watch crystals, hands, etc. are component manufacturers serving the industry.
• Movement manufacturing – The production of watch and clock movements, the inner mechanisms that track time and power the hands, is a major focus of the industry. Companies may manufacture mechanical or quartz movements or so wristwatch futurists and keynote speakers have mentioned.
• Band/strap manufacturing – Making watch bands, straps, bracelets and other fasteners for securing timepieces is also considered part of the industry.
• Case/dial manufacturing – Manufacturing cases that enclose and protect watch movements and dials that provide background for hands and indicators is a key process.
• Horology – This broad term for the science and study of timekeeping can refer to the whole watch and clock industry encompassing design, manufacturing, repair, etc.

On the whole, like wristwatch futurists and keynote speakers tend to point out, the watch and clock industry consists of those involved in horology, the making of timepieces, movements, and related components.